I disagree with friend and former student Robert Fife of CTV News!

With all respect to my good friend and former student Robert Fife, I disagree with his recent statement that by letting Newfoundland and Labrador MPs vote against the Harper government budget, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is "marching to the drumbeat" of Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams and the Liberal MPs from the province.

Bob, The Ottawa bureau chief of CTV News added that Ignatieff opened the door to any of his members of parliament being able to vote against the Liberal Party position if that's the view of their premier or their province.

Premier Williams is in a squabble with the Harper government over equalization payments.

Au contraire Bob to your view, and I still consider you one of the best reporters in Canada, Ignatieff is showing himself to be a master strategist by giving his Newfoundland and Labrador MPs the freedom to break caucus discipline on an issue very close to their constituents; likely keeping the province Liberal in the next election; firing a shot across the bow at Stephen Harper that the report cards on the stimulus package better be good or next time all his MPs may vote to bring down the government, and sending a clear signal that it is not politics as usual with him at the helm.

What's so wrong with giving MPs from certain parts of the country a modified free vote on issues that are of great concern to the people they represent. To those entrenched in the Ottawa way, it is more than time to shake up how national politics is played in Canada.

Sure Ignatieff has opened a new door, and let's hope it is a breath of fresh air for Canada!

Final Point ... Just today President Barack Obama nominated another Republican to join his cabinet, this time as commerce secretary,. That makes three now. No coalition, no need to join the Democratic party, just a desire to serve the best interests of the United States!

My email mj.morris@live.ca or post comments